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‘Real reason Bobrisky was kept outside prison walls’

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Inmates’ rights activist and Director General of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission, Bishop Kayode Williams, has offered insight into why convicted cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, may have been housed outside the designated Custodial Centre.

This comes as the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has vowed to hold accountable any official involved in the situation.

Amidst allegations that Bobrisky, sentenced to six months in prison, was reportedly kept in a private apartment rather than in a custodial facility, Williams shared his perspective during a breakfast show on Arise Television, monitored on Friday in Abuja.

The Federal Government has already suspended two top officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service: Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) of the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Kirikiri, Lagos, and Sikiru Adekunle, DCC of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri, to allow for a thorough investigation.

Williams pointed out that Bobrisky’s unique situation, being biologically male but presenting as female, might have necessitated special accommodation arrangements. His view was supported by a former National Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Controller Francis Enobore (retd).

Williams stated: “There are accommodations for condemned prisoners, those sentenced to death, who must not mingle with other inmates. The second accommodation is for convicted inmates, who are the owners of the prison. The accommodation that is provided for males, are they going to bring Idris with his transgender body/looks to go and sleep in the general cell? The first thing they do is decide how to treat someone like that.”

He further explained: “They provided him a special place for protective custody because, with his appearance, he would be in danger. He looks like a woman, moves like a woman, and some homosexual inmates would be willing to take things to extreme lengths.”

Enobore added: “Yes, he confessed in court that he is a man but he came in bodily showing that he is a woman. Some of the people behind bars are unrepentant homosexuals. There is no doubt that if care was not taken, we would have a very serious security situation on our hands.”

At a media briefing on Friday in Abuja, Minister Tunji-Ojo addressed the suspensions of the senior correctional officers, emphasizing the need for an unobstructed investigation.

He said: “We will not spare anybody no matter how highly placed. Let’s be patient. Investigation is on but let’s be assured that nobody will be shielded and nobody will be protected.”

Tunji-Ojo expressed confidence in the investigative panel, led by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, to carry out a thorough and credible investigation.


(VANGUARD)